Farm workers win huge increase – but off a low starting point: As in Sabotage, farm workers are among the poorest workers – in 2012 their minimum wage was R69 per day! They can be easily fired and evicted from their homes. As they are spread out on farms it’s difficult for them to organise. But in late 2012 workers in some areas of the Western Cape walked off the job. The Congress of Trade Unions (Cosatu), Bawsi Agricultural Workers Union of SA (Bawusa) and the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (Csaawu) soon stepped in. The workers were demanding R150 per day. After much turmoil, plus the deaths of three workers, the government quickly pushed through a deal to raise the minimum wage to R105. Note that BAWUSA and FAWU were in conflict during the strike – in a situation similar to that of our story. On February 10, 2012, FAWU said: “…leadership and members were however extremely disturbed by an unscrupulous attempt to highjack and interrupt our meeting by the so-called Bawsi and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (BAWUSA).”

Over a million public servants on strike: In August and September 2010 about 1,3 million public servants (including teachers, health workers, customs officials and police officers) from several unions went on strike. Many schools were closed; hospitals had just a few staff and volunteers. Government refused to offer more than a R700 monthly housing allowance and a raise of 7%. The public servants wanted an 8,6% increase and R1 000 subsidy. The strike went on for three weeks before the unions accepted 7,5% and an R800 allowance. This strike raised ethical (is it right or wrong?) questions about whether hospital staff and teachers should be allowed to strike – see another case below. What do you think?

Military personnel win the right to strike: In 1999 there was an historic labour law case involving the military. Up until then our Defence Act of 1957 did not allow members of the Defence Force to unionise or take part in any protest action. The matter went to the Constitutional Court which ruled that this violated the rights of members of the Defence Force. However, the court said that under certain circumstances, the right may need to be limited. This would be, for example, in a time of war.

Marikana – a strike becomes a massacre: This platinum miners’ strike in August 2012 was preceded by assault and murder used as intimidation. Two police officers, two security guards and six unionists were killed in conflict between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the newer Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). Unidentified people infiltrated the mine plant and assaulted on-duty employees, killing one, and setting fire to vehicles. As a result, the police were present in large numbers. On 10 August 3 000 workers went on strike. The Lonmin platinum mining company labelled it illegal. Eventually the strikers gathered on a hill, many armed with knives and spears. Then on 16 August the miners were given an ultimatum to disperse. In a chaotic scene the police opened fire and shot dead 34 mineworkers and wounded 78, claiming self-defence. A massive local and international outcry followed. Riot police should be well-trained to deal safely with a situation like this. Some analysts accuse the Police and politicians of working with Lonmin to make the strike fail. There is an on-going Commission of Enquiry into this shocking case.